Systems and Methods for Driving an External Display Device Using a Mobile Phone Device

ABSTRACT

A mobile phone device comprises the following: a processor; a first display controller for driving an internal display of the mobile phone device; and a second display controller for driving an external display, wherein the external display is connectable to the second display controller via a connector.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority from a provisional patent application entitled “Systems and Methods for Driving an External Display Device Using a Cellular Device” filed on Feb. 23, 2009 and having an Application No. 61/154,760. Said application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods for a mobile phone device, and, in particular, to systems and methods for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device.

BACKGROUND

Mobile phone devices (e.g., cellular phones, satellite phones, etc.) are generally used for mobile voice calls and data communications over a mobile phone network. In addition to the standard voice function of mobile phone devices, current mobile phone devices may support many additional services and accessories, including SMS text messaging, email, Internet access, gaming, Bluetooth capabilities, infrared capabilities, a digital camera, a MP3 player, a FM/AM radio, and a global positioning system (“GPS”).

However, with the wide variety of services and accessories to select from on a mobile phone device, the mobile phone device is still limited by the size of the display screen of the mobile phone device. A user of a mobile phone device may feel fatigue due to long-term viewing of the small-sized LCD screen of the mobile phone device and left unsatisfied with the experience of viewing multimedia content on the small-sized LCD screen. Additionally, the conventional mobile phone has another disadvantage in that the displayed section is not easily adjustable due to the resource limitations of the mobile phone device. The mobile phone device has a further disadvantage in that the user may be faced with hazardous consequences due to concentrating on information displayed on the small-sized LCD screen, e.g., when the user uses the GPS/navigation service on the cellular device or other services or applications.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide systems and methods for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device to enrich the viewing experience.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide systems and methods for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device.

Another object of this invention is to provide the capability for a single input/output connection of a mobile phone device to connect to various video and audio connections of an external display device.

Briefly, a system for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device is disclosed. A mobile phone device comprises the following: a processor; a first display controller for driving an internal display of the mobile phone device; and a second display controller for driving an external display, wherein the external display is connectable to the second display controller via a connector.

An advantage of this invention is that systems and methods for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device are provided.

Another advantage of this invention is that a single input/output connection of a mobile phone device is capable to connect to various video and audio connections of an external display device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for driving an external display device using a mobile phone device. A mobile phone device can comprise an internal primary display device 2, a first display controller 4 to drive the internal display device 2, a graphics accelerator 6, an A/V decoder and encoder 8, a primary processor 10, peripheral device controllers 12 to connect to external and internal storages 14, a video processor 16, an audio processor 18 which can output audio signals to an amplifier 20 and/or a transmitter 22, a second display controller 24 which can output to an external display device 26 via the transmitter 22 or a digital to analog converter (“DAC”) 28, a memory interface 30, a memory 32 (e.g., RAM), a communications processor 34, a radio frequency (“RF”) transceiver 36, and an internal bus 38 to connect the various disclosed components.

The mobile phone device can display content (e.g., images, video content, multimedia content, or other displayable content) via an external display device 26 (e.g., a projector, CRT monitor, LCD monitor, television, or other display devices) driven by the second digital controller 24. In order to display content on the external display device 26, software (“S/W”) running on the primary processor 10 controls the data flow internally, and enables the internal primary display device 2 and the external display device 26 to display content.

With respect to the components in the data flow, the memory interface 30 is responsible for reading and writing data into the memory 32 and from the memory 32. The internal bus 38 enables communication among the components in the system.

The external display device 26 can be connected to the mobile phone device via connection capable of communicating with a VGA connection, an analog TV-out connection (e.g., S-video, component, or other TV connection), a HDMI connection, or other audio and/or video connections. The graphics and video content can be merged and displayed on both the internal primary display device 2 and the external display device 26. The displayed content can be the same for both display devices 2 and 26 or different for each display device. Audio content can be also connected to the external display device 26 via the transmitter 22 or the DAC 28.

Content can be downloaded to the mobile phone device from a Wi-Fi connection, a 2G/3G communications connection, a Bluetooth connection, a global positioning system device, a mobile TV connection, or other source via the communications processor 34. Alternatively, content can be fetched from a peripheral device (e.g., camera, microphone, external storages, or other peripheral devices) via the peripheral device controller 12. The video processor 16, graphics accelerator 6, and AN decoder 8 can process the content and blend the content into a merged graphic and video frame to be placed in the memory 32. The first and/or second display controllers 4 and 24 can then fetch the final content to be displayed to its respective display device.

With respect to the second display controller 24, the second display controller 24 retrieves the content stored in the memory 32, and converts that data to VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) standards for VGA output, wherein these standards are incorporated by reference. In performing this conversion, the second display controller 24 generates a defined resolution, timing diagram, timing sequence, and the period for transferring data following the VESA standards to display the content on the external display device 26. The converted data can be transferred via a cable connected to the external display device 26. Various VESA display resolutions can be supported through the cable to the external display device 26.

Generally, a VGA connector and video connectors of a television (e.g., RCA connectors, S-Video connectors, and component connectors) have separate form factors, thus requiring separate cables to connect to these connectors. Furthermore, these connections can be implemented using different standards, thereby requiring the usage of special cables for the connectors. For instance, if a display controller outputs a signal for an S-video connection, this cannot work for a VGA format since VGA cables have more wires than the S-video cable and are governed by different standards.

In an embodiment of the invention, a single cable can be used to connect to various types of audio/video connections of an external display device. Software can configure the device to correctly output the correct signals for a particular connection. The cable can be physically similar to a USB-like connector and cable.

Software and hardware can be used in conjunction to determine if the mobile phone device is connected to a TV out connection, a VGA connection, a HDMI connection, or other type of connections. Once the type of connection is determined, the software on the mobile phone device can initiate transmission of the video data in accordance with the respective standards for that connection.

Generally, VGA requires more wires than TV out since TV out may need one wire, two wires (s-video connection), or three wires (component connection). Therefore, the TV out wires can be mapped to the wires used for a VGA connection in order to support various TV out connections through a single cable. Similarly, other types of connections can be mapped to the VGA connection.

Software can determine whether there is a VGA, TV out, HDMI, or other connection to the external display device 26. If a TV out connection is determined, then HW can sense the level of the various wires on the cable to determine the type of TV out connection. If it is a VGA connection, then there may be no need for a mapping since the wires can be configured for VGA video output as the default setting. HW can also detect whether or not the cable is plugged in to the external display device 26.

In addition to the mobile phone device automatically sensing the type of connection to the external display device 26, the user of the mobile phone device can also select which type of audio/video connection to output the displayable content from the mobile phone device to the external display device 26.

The mobile phone device can automatically sense the video connection attached to it. The mobile phone can have a cable that plugs into an input and output (“I/O”) connector of the mobile phone device. On one end of the cable is a plug unique for the mobile phone device. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, this cable can be a 20 pin I/O cable. The other end of the cable can have multiple connectors based on the respective video standard to be used by the external display device 26. Thus, the 20 pin I/O connector of the cable can be plugged into the mobile phone device and the other end of the cable can be plugged into external display's 26 respective a/v connector, such as a VGA connector, S-video, composite video, RGB cable, or other connector to the external display device 26. The cable may also be able to connect to the external display 26 using an adapter to convert an end of the cable to fit the connector of the external display 26. The SW on the mobile phone device can determine the type of connection used and send video data in accordance with the respective standard for that video connection.

When a user plugs in the mobile phone device to the external display device 26 via an appropriate connector, the mobile phone device can automatically transmit data to the external display device 26 in accordance with the respective video standard. For instance, if the user plugs in the cable into the I/O connector of the mobile phone, and on the other end of the cable is plugged into an LCD monitor that supports 1024×768 via a VGA connection on the monitor. The mobile phone device can automatically detect that the attached external display device is a monitor, and switch to the appropriate resolution. Alternatively, if the user instead plugs the cable into a composite video source, the mobile phone device will automatically determine that the device is a television and output the appropriate video via the composite video connection.

This can also work for a docking station for the mobile phone device. For instance, the mobile phone device can be placed in a docking cradle to connect to other devices, whether it is a projector, a CRT monitor, a LCD monitor, a television, or other display device. Once it is placed in the docking cradle, the phone can automatically switch to the correct video format to display content.

Applications

The present invention can be used to support a plethora of applications and services. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile phone device can be used as a mobile gaming unit. For instance, a first user can operate the mobile phone device as a controller to play a video game via a network connection to a gaming network. In addition, the first user may interact with other users that have a mobile phone device of the present invention such that these users can play each other in an interactive video game via the network connection to the gaming network. Due to the mobility of the mobile phone devices, the users can be located at far reaching and diverse locations and are able to move to different locations while still operating the video games. Furthermore, since the mobile phone device is a functioning phone, the users can chat with each other via the microphone and speaker of their respective mobile phone device.

An external display device can also be connected to the mobile phone device to display the video game. The mobile phone device can be serve as a gaming system having networking and processing capabilities and serve as the controller for the game.

Additionally, certain applications can be made mobile and be achieved through the capability to display content retrieved by a mobile phone device to an external display device, including document presentations, office applications, gaming, teleconferencing, etc. In fact, a wide range of content can be retrieved by the mobile phone device to be displayed on the external device.

With respect to video teleconferencing, an application running on the primary processor 10 can retrieve encoded video data from a wireless network connection through the communications processor 34 or the storages 14. The primary processor 10 controls the A/V decoder 8 to decode the video stream and write the decoded stream into the memory 32 via the memory interface 30. The primary processor 10 also controls the video processor 16 to perform post-processing and writes the decoded video frames into the memory 32 via the memory interface 30. Next, the primary processor 10 controls the graphics accelerator 6 to generate UI frames, which are stored in the memory 32 via the memory interface 30. Then, the primary processor 10 controls the graphics accelerator 6 to merge the UI frames and the video frames in memory 32 into the final display frames. The final display frames are stored in memory 32 via the memory interface 30. Finally, the primary processor controls the second display controller 24 to fetch the generated display frames, and display the data through the VGA interface to an external display device 26, e.g., a projector.

With respect to document presentations, an application running on the primary processor 10 retrieves documents from a wireless network connection through the communications processor 34 or the storages 14. The primary processor 10 processes the document and generates document frames, where the document frames are stored in the memory 32 via the memory interface 30. Next, the primary processor 10 controls the graphics accelerator 6 to generate UI frames, which are also stored in the memory 32 via the memory interface 30. The primary processor 10 controls the graphics accelerator 6 to merge the UI frames and document frames in the memory 32 into the final display frames. The primary processor 10 controls the second display controller 24 to fetch the generated display frames and display the data through the VGA interface (or other video interface, e.g., HDMI, DVI, etc.) to the external display device 26, e.g., a projector.

The systems and methods of this invention can be extended to support the capability of using a mobile phone device to transmit recorded video to an external display device 26. Alternatively, the mobile phone device can be used to transmit real-time video to an external display 26, similarly to a surveillance system. Another use can be to view a movie on an external display device 26, driven by the mobile phone device, wherein the movie can be retrieved from the Internet or other network connected to the mobile phone device via the RF transceiver 36.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the internal primary display 2 can be a touch screen for receiving user input. Thus, the user can directly operate video games, document presentations, or other applications by inputting commands onto the touch sensitive primary display 2.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments or methods, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments or methods. Rather, it is the inventor's contention that the invention be understood and construed in its broadest meaning as reflected by the following claims. Thus, these claims are to be understood as incorporating not only the preferred methods described herein but all those other and further alterations and modifications as would be apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art. 

1. A mobile phone device, comprising: a processor; a first display controller for driving an internal display of the mobile phone device; a connector to an external display; and a second display controller for driving the external display, wherein the external display is connectable to the second display controller via the connector.
 2. The mobile phone device of claim 1 wherein content is downloadable from a mobile phone network and wherein the content is displayable on the external display.
 3. The mobile phone device of claim 2 wherein the processor manipulates the content according to user input and wherein the manipulated content is transmitted to a gaming network via the mobile phone network.
 4. The mobile phone device of claim 3 wherein multiple users are connected via the gaming network for participating in an interactive video game.
 5. The mobile phone device of claim 4 further comprising buttons, wherein the buttons receive the user's input for playing the interactive video game.
 6. The mobile phone device of claim 1 wherein the internal display is a touch screen for receiving user commands to operate the external display.
 7. The mobile phone device of claim 2 wherein the internal display is a touch screen for receiving user commands to manipulate the content and wherein the manipulated content is displayable on the external display.
 8. The mobile phone device of claim 1 wherein the internal display mirrors the display of the external display.
 9. The mobile phone device of claim 1 wherein the video format for driving the external display is auto-detectable based on the connected external display.
 10. A mobile phone device, comprising: a processor; a first display controller for driving an internal display of the mobile phone device; a connector to an external display; and a second display controller for driving the external display, wherein the external display is connectable to the second display controller via the connector, wherein content is downloadable from a mobile phone network, wherein the content is displayable on the external display, and wherein the internal display is a touch screen for receiving user commands to operate the external display.
 11. The mobile phone device of claim 10 wherein the processor manipulates the content according to user input and wherein the manipulated content is transmitted to a gaming network via the mobile phone network.
 12. The mobile phone device of claim 11 wherein multiple users are connected via the gaming network for participating in an interactive video game.
 13. The mobile phone device of claim 12 further comprising buttons, wherein the buttons receive the user's input for playing the interactive video game.
 14. The mobile phone device of claim 10 wherein the internal display is a touch screen for receiving user commands to manipulate the content and wherein the manipulated content is displayable on the external display.
 15. The mobile phone device of claim 10 wherein the internal display mirrors the display of the external display.
 16. The mobile phone device of claim 10 wherein the video format for driving the external display is auto-detectable based on the connected external display.
 17. A mobile phone device, comprising: a processor; a first display controller for driving an internal display of the mobile phone device; a connector to an external display; and a second display controller for driving the external display, wherein the external display is connectable to the second display controller via the connector, wherein content is downloadable from a mobile phone network, wherein the content is displayable on the external display, wherein the processor manipulates the content according to user input, wherein the manipulated content is transmitted to a gaming network via the mobile phone network, wherein multiple users are connected via the gaming network for participating in an interactive video game, wherein the internal display is a touch screen for receiving user commands to operate the external display and for receiving user commands to manipulate the content, wherein the manipulated content is displayable on the external display, and wherein the video format for driving the external display is auto-detectable based on the connected external display. 